Cushion and mattress filling machine having continuously reciprocating discharging means



March 25, 1952 KAY 2,590,327

CUSHION AND MATTRESS FILLING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATING IDISCHARGING MEANS Filed Dec. 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

flew/u? J 59/ BY irraawf/ March 5 A. J. KAY

CUSHION AND MATTRESS FILLING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATINGDISCHARGING MEANS 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1947 I N V ENTOR.JQ/PMz/R J 527/ BY March 25, 1952 A J Y 2,590,327

CUSHION AND MATTR'ESS FILLING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATINGDISCHARGING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1947 INVENTOR.

flea/0e JKk Wm March 25, 1952 A J KAY 2,590,327

CUSHION AND MATTRESS FILLING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATINGDISCHARGING MEANS Filed Dec. 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

HAW/0;? Jffa/ Patented Mar. 25, 1952 CUSHION AND MATTRESS FILLINGMACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATING DISCHARGING MEANS Arthur J.Kay, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 8, 1947, Serial No. 790,357

' This invention relates to a mattress or cushion filling device and hasfor its object to provide a simple and efficient machine which isconvenient to operate and adjustable to receive the filler material fortransfer of such material to the mattress or cushion cover provided forthis purpose. A further object of the invention is to provide convenientmeans for adjusting the machine to accommodate small cushion covers aswell as the larger size mattress covers ordinarily used.

The objects of the invention and the many advantageous features thereofwill be better understood from the following detailed description and byreferring to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mattress filling machine embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially corresponding side elevational view of thedevice;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine taken in the direction of the arrow3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the machine;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views of elements of themachine, the importance of which will be hereinafter fully described;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale of the left end of deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an important adjusting mechanism of the machineshowing this mechanism in the two extreme positions of adjustmentthereof;

Fig. 10 is a substantially corresponding side elevational view of thismechanism;

Fig. 11 illustrates certain switch control elements of the machine; and

Fig. 12 shows a modified form of mechanism by means of which transverseadjustment of the machine may be expedited.

The device illustrated in the drawings comprises a table which ismounted on a base I and it includes a top plate 2, through thelongitudinal center of which is cut a slot 2 to form a means ofcommunication between the mechanism above the table top and the drivingmechanism which is placed on the base I of the device. A casing ismounted on the upper surface of the top plate and it includes sidemembers 3, 4 which, as best indicated in Fig- 7, are rectangular incross-section. These members are perforated to receive bolts 5 whichlatter extend through vertically directed slots of side plates 1, 8 tomaintain the latter locked in vertically adjusted position on themembers 3, 4. It is noticed that plates 9, II! are hingedly secured tothe top edge of the side plates 1, 8 and that they extend inwardsubstantially parallel with the base plates of the members 3, 4. Theseside members and plates combine to form the casing within which materialis placed to form the filler for a mattress or 8 Claims. (01. '22646) zcushion in the manner which will be described presently.

As above stated, the side members I, 8 are vertically adjustable withinthe members 3, 4 for the purpose of determining the thickness of thefiller, in addition to which the members in this way combined arearranged for relative transverse adjustment on the top plate by means ofbrackets 15, which extend through transverse slots [6 of the top plate.The brackets l5 are,

at the lower end thereof, provided with threaded perforations of a sizeto receive therein threaded rods l1, it, see also Fig. 4. To these rodsare secured sprocket wheels [9, 20 on which is hung a chain 2i and acrank 22 is fastened to the end of the rod Ii. This crank is manuallyoperated to rotate the two rods and thereby to move the side frames ofthe casing relative to each other. It is to be understood, of course,that the direction of the screw threads at one end of the rods isreversed relative to the direction of the screw threads at the other endthereof and that, when so related, rotations of the rods in onedirection or the other will impart to the side members of the frameuniform movement in opposite directions.

Studs 23 and 23 rise from the top surfaces of the members 9, l0 and theyride in transverse perforations of plates 24, 25, which are extendableto maintain the top of the framing closed when the side members thereofare moved apart upon rotation of the rods ll, l8, as aforesaid. Forconvenient manipulation, the plates 24, 25 are shown made with upwardlyextending flanges 24 25*.

.After the frame has been adjusted vertically and transversely to suitthe size of filler to be made, it is merely required to swing thecombined upper plates of the side frames on the hinges ll, l2 upwardlyand outwardly into open position whereupon the filler material may beplaced therein and the top plates thereof subsequently closed. As bestshown in Figs. 1 to 3, brackets 28, 29 are secured to the sides of thetable top and the top flanges of these brackets are perforated toreceive rods 30, 3 i, the upper portions of which are bent inwardly atright angles relative to the body portions thereof. These rods are, asindicated in dotted outline in Fig. 3, shown swung outward to clear theupper members of the filler framing when the latter are swung into openposition but they are, as indicated in full outline, when the fillerframing is closed, swung inward and depressed to maintain the fillerframing closed. The bag or cover for the mattress 0r cushion isthereupon slipped over the projecting end of the filler framingsubstantially as indicated at 33 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The center portion of the rod l1 forms a bearing for a sprocket wheel35. A second sprocket wheel 36 is mounted on a transverse shaft 31 atthe opposite end of the table and a chain 38 is hung on these twowheels. An electric motor 40 is secured to the base I and the shaft ofthis motor extends to and is operatively connected with the shaft of agear reduction mechanism 4|, from which extends a drive shaft 42. A gearwheel 43 is secured to the end of this drive shaft and it is inpermanent mesh with a gear wheel 44 which latter is mounted for rotationon rod l1 and is rigidly combined with the sprocket wheel 35. In view ofthis, it is seen that rotation of the motor in one direction or theother imparts slow movement to the chain 38.

Mechanism is provided for transferring the filler within the fillercasing to the cover 33 which, as above stated, has been slipped on theend of the filler casing. This mechanism includes a frame 46 which isseatable on the table top and connected for movement lengthwise thereofby means of a detent 41, which latter is fitted to slide vertically inthe rear end of the frame 46 and shaped, when in its lowermost position,to extend through any one of the links of the chain 38.

In view of this description it is seen that the frame 46 is caused tomove lengthwise of the table with the chain 38 for the purpose ofadvancing the filler within the filler casing into the mattress cover33. The frame is, at the front end thereof, made with a cross-barconsisting of two members 48, 49 which are mounted to slide transverselyin a guide at the front end of the frame. A resilient member 5| ishingedly secured to the outer ends of the members 48, 49 and the tensionof this member urges the two members of the cross-bar apart. When soarranged, it is seen that the outer ends of the cross-bar remain incontact with the inner surfaces of the filler frame side plates in anyposition of transverse adjustment thereof. The extreme positions of themembers 48, 49 are indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. In order to guide theresilient member 5| and so as to maintain the members of this cross-barcombination always evenly and uniformly spaced, a guide rod 52 is shownextending through a perforation through the center portion of theresilient member 5|.

A reversible switch 55 is secured to the underside of the table top anda stem 56 projects from the inner end thereof to support an arm 51. Theouter end of this arm is bent at right angles to form a plate 58 whichrides between fixed collars 59, 60 of a rod 6|. The latter 1S offsetintermediate its ends to form a loop 62, see Fig. 11, which rides in aplate 63 and the latter is at 64 shown pivotally secured to a lever 65.A push rod 66 is pivotally connected to the outer end of this lever, asindicated at 51, and this push rod is manually operable to reciprocatethe lever and to oscillate the arm 58, thereby to throw the switch asrequired in order to rotate the motor in one direction or the other.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is noticed that the bent portion 58of the arm 51 extends inwardly into the path of travel of the detent 41and it is also important to note that the rear end of the rod BI is bentat right angles to form a transverse extension 6N which alsoispositioned in the path of travel of the detent 41. In view of thisdescription it is seen that, as the detent 41 is moved by the chain 38in forward direction, it will reach the plate 58 of the switch arm andmove this plate to swing the arm in position to reverse the switch. Itis also noted that, when subsequently the detent moves in the oppositedirection, it will reach the transverse extension of the rod 6| and willretract the rod sufficiently to swing the switch arm to return theswitch to its initial position. The end of the rod extension is fittedwith a head 68 which rides in a guide 69 of the table top 2.'

While the operation of adjusting the filler frame transversely byrotation of the crank 22 is entirely satisfactory, it is possibleconsiderably to speed up this operation and to render it moreconvenient. The simple mechanism which is required for such improvedoperation is, in Fig, 12, shown mounted on the threaded rod [1 in theform of a clutch mechanism including a sleeve 10 which rides on afeather ll of the rod 11. Teeth 12 project from the inner face of thissleeve for engagement with teeth 13 of a gear wheel M, which latter isidentical with and takes the place of the gear wheel 44 above referredto. A hand lever I5 is mounted to swing on a lug 16 of the top plate 2and the inner bifurcated end of this lever is fitted with studs T! whichengage a circular groove of the sleeve ill. In order to adjust thefiller frame transversely, it is merely required manually to operatethis lever to move the projections of the sleeve into engagement withthe projections of the gear wheel i4. The clutch is thereby closed tomove the members of the filler casing in expansive or contractivedirection according to the direction in which the gear wheel 14 isrotated by the motor 40.

In Fig. 7, the filler frame is shown spread apart to accommodate a widemattress and the plates 24, 25 are pushed together to form a closedcover for the frame. Similar arrangement must be provided to close thebottom of the overhanging frame portion. A bracket is, for this purpose,secured to the top plate in horizontal alignment with the horizontalbase plates of the members 3, 4 and plates 81, 82 are placed beneaththese parts. The plates are secured to a slide 83 which is fitted with aprojecting stud 84. The latter forms a handle by means of which theslide 83 may be moved to position the plates 81, 82 below the gaps inthe bottom of the expanded frame.

While I have hereinbefore described simple and convenient mechanisms foradjusting a filler frame to suit covers of various sizes and foradvancing the fillers into such covers, I do not thereby mean to belimited to the exact combinations, arrangements and proportions of partsthereof but reserve the right to embody therein modifications within thescope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table, a rectangularfiller frame mounted on said table, one end of said frame extendingbeyond the end of the table to form a support for the cover to befilled, means for adjusting said frame vertically and horizontally tofit the size of cover to be filled, transfer mechanism below the table,said mechanism including a sprocket chain the upper reach of which ridesin a slot lengthwise extending through the table, means advanceablethrough the frame for expelling filler therefrom, an element extendablefrom said means through said chain reach, a reversible motor connectedto move said chain thereby to advance the expelling means and the fillerthrough the casing, a reversible switch controlling said reversiblemotor, and means positioned in the line of travel of said element formovement thereby to reverse the switch.

2. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table, a filler framemounted on said table, one end of said frame overhangin the end of thetable to form a support for the mattress cover to be filled, powerdriven transfer mechanism below the table, said mechanism including areversible motor, a reversible switch and a sprocket chain riding in aslot longitudinally extending through the table, means within said framefor discharging filler therefrom, an element extendable from saiddischarging means through said chain of the said transfer mechanism fortransmitting movement of the latter to advance said discharging meansand the filler through the easing, and means operable by said element toreverse said switch at the end of the advance movement of saiddischarging means.

3. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table, a rectangularfiller frame mounted on said table, one end of said frame extendingbeyond the end of the table to form a support for the cover to befilled, means for adjusting said frame vertically and horizontally tofit the size of cover to be filled, transfer mechanism below the table,said mechanism including a sprocket chain the upper reach of which ridesin a slot lengthwise extending through the table, means advanceablethrough the frame for expelling filler therefrom, said means includingtransversely extending plates and a resilient member joined to the sideedges of said plates yieldingly to press the plates against the innerside wall of the frame, an element downwardly extendable from said meansthrough said chain reach, and a prime mover connected to move said chainthereby to move said element to advance the expellin means and thefiller through the casing.

4. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table, a rectangularfiller frame mounted on said table, one end of said frame extendingbeyond the end of the table toform a support for the cover to be filled,means for adjusting said frame vertically and horizontally to fit thesize of cover to be filled, transfer mechanism below the table, saidmechanism including a sprocket chain the upper reach of which rides in aslot lengthwise extending through the table, an electric motor,connections from said motor to drive said chain, a reversible switch inthe motor circuit, means advanceable through the frame for expellingfiller therefrom, an element extendable from said means through saidchain reach, and a member connected with said switch, said member beingmoved by the said element to reverse the switch at the end of the fillerexpelling movement.

5. A mattress cover filling machine comprising a table, an adjustablefiller container mounted on said table for lengthwise movement thereon,one end of said container extending beyond the end of the table to forma support for the cover to .be filled, transfer mechanism below thetable, said mechanism including a sprocket chain, a

frame mounted for lengthwise movement on the table, a guide at the frontend of said frame, transversely extending plates seated in said guide, aresilient member joined to the outer side edges of said plates, saidmember having a central perforation, a rod extending from said guidethrough said perforation to the rear end of the frame, and an elementseatable in said frame for projection through any link of said chain.

6. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table, an adjustablefiller container mounted on said table for lengthwise movement thereon,one end of said container extending .beyond the end of the table to forma support for the cover to be filled, transfer mechanism below thetable, said mechanism including a sprocket chain the upper reach ofwhich rides in a slot of the table top, a frame mounted for lengthwisemovement on the table, said frame having a passage vertically throughthe rear end thereof, a guide at the front end of said frame,overlapping transversely extending plates seated in said guide, aresilient member pivotally joined to the outer side edges of saidplates, said member having a central perforation, a rod extending fromsaid guide through said perforation to the rear end of the frame, and anelement seatable in the passage of the frame for downward projectionthrough any link of the upper reach of said chain.

'7. A mattress cover filling machine comprising, a table having a slotlongitudinally through the center thereof, a filler frame mounted onsaid table, one end of said frame overhanging the end of the table toform a support for the mattress cover to be filled, means for adjustingsaid frame to suit the size of cover to be filled, a power driventransfer mechanism including a member mounted for reciprocatory movementwithin the slot of the table, means within said frame for dischargingfiller therefrom, said means extending rearwardly above said member, andan element seatable in the extended portion of the discharging means andprojecting through the member to interlock these parts and socontinuousl to transmit reciprocating movement to the discharging meansthereby to advance the filler through the casing and subsequently toretract the discharging means.

8. A mattress cover filling machine comprising a slotted table, a fillerframe mounted on said table, one end of said frame overhanging the endof the table to form a support for the mattress cover to be filled, achain mounted for reciprocating movement within the slotted portion ofthe table, means advanceable within said frame for discharging fillertherefrom, said means extending rearwardly above said chain, and anelement seatable in the rear end of said means and downwardly projectingthrough any link of the chain continuously to transmit reciprocatingmovement of the chain to the element thereby to advance the dischargingmeans and the filler through the casing and positively to return thetransfer means.

ARTHUR J. KAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 259,269 Chambers June 6, 18821,474,619 Buck Nov. 20, 1923 1,481,542 Dunsieth, Jr Jan. 22, 19241,482,063 Baer Jan. 29, 1924 2,099,897 Lang Nov. 23, 1937 2,186,495Pierson Jan. 19, 1940

